Cap. I can't really speak for the French from France but here in Québec c'est quoi ça is the usual method of asking what's that. It is not peremptory or angry, but it is considered "common speak" that most highbrow teachers want to eliminate.

When we say qu'est-ce c'est it is just like saying "what is that" without the contraction of "what is" into what's. It is usually said when we are minding our Ps and Qs.